Iowa adoptees can't see their original birth certificates, but that might change soon under a new bill at the Statehouse."It's just a piece of paper, but it's my piece of paper," said Michelle Spear, an Iowa adoptee who was never given a copy of her original birth certificate. “Even knowing my biological family, the state of Iowa still does not allow me to have my original birth certificate.” Anyone who was born and put up for adoption in Iowa after 1941 was given a new birth certificate that makes it look like the adoptive parents actually gave birth to the child."Sometimes new birth certificate's information was changed or just left blank or not accurate," Spear said.Some have vague birth locations or the wrong time that the child was born written on the document. But those adoptees found out that information wasn't right without looking at their original birth certificate. "Part of the reasons for that might be that they were able to find out what they wanted to know some other way," said William Pearce, with Adoption Associates of Iowa.Some of the bill's critics say the biological parents' rights are at stake, too.When someone wants to put their child up for adoption, they are promised their identity will be kept a secret."It's sort of like a betrayal of a contract or a betrayal of an expectation," Pearce said.Right now, biological parents only have to reveal health history records to adoption agencies, but adoptees want more information than that."We feel, as adults in Iowa, we have the rights to our government document just like everyone else," Spear said. "It will make me feel like I've completed my life circle."The bill is expected to be debated and voted on in the Senate on Tuesday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) —

Iowa adoptees can't see their original birth certificates, but that might change soon under a new bill at the Statehouse.

"It's just a piece of paper, but it's my piece of paper," said Michelle Spear, an Iowa adoptee who was never given a copy of her original birth certificate. “Even knowing my biological family, the state of Iowa still does not allow me to have my original birth certificate.”

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Anyone who was born and put up for adoption in Iowa after 1941 was given a new birth certificate that makes it look like the adoptive parents actually gave birth to the child.

"Sometimes new birth certificate's information was changed or just left blank or not accurate," Spear said.

Some have vague birth locations or the wrong time that the child was born written on the document. But those adoptees found out that information wasn't right without looking at their original birth certificate.

"Part of the reasons for that might be that they were able to find out what they wanted to know some other way," said William Pearce, with Adoption Associates of Iowa.

Some of the bill's critics say the biological parents' rights are at stake, too.

When someone wants to put their child up for adoption, they are promised their identity will be kept a secret.

"It's sort of like a betrayal of a contract or a betrayal of an expectation," Pearce said.

Right now, biological parents only have to reveal health history records to adoption agencies, but adoptees want more information than that.

"We feel, as adults in Iowa, we have the rights to our government document just like everyone else," Spear said. "It will make me feel like I've completed my life circle."

The bill is expected to be debated and voted on in the Senate on Tuesday.